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Profile for Diane A. Lenning |
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General: (political statement of goals, objectives, views, philosophies) |
ENERGY INDEPENDENCE. We must become energy independent developing all our natural resources including wind, solar, nuclear, oil, geothermal, natural gas, and clean coal. We need development of all sources in order to preserve our National Security. Dependence upon foreign countries that may wish to manipulate our economy and security is a position we must "change" to provide a safe and secure future for our children and grandchildren.
EDUCATION. Every youth deserves a quality education. We must reduce the "drop-out" rate and improve the graduation rate. Minimum level competency skills for high school gradution across the nation are imperative to provide the necessary jobs skills for our youth in a growing global market economy. No Child Left Behind provides the national goals for improved reading, writing, and math skills necessary for improvement among all students in America. A quality education is a "civil right" of all of America's young people.
ECONOMY. Improved vocational skills will provide the job pool America will need as we move forward in developing our energy resources. These new jobs will grow our economy and provide a better future for our young people.
LOWER TAXES will GROW JOBS and strengthen our economy! Lower taxes will provide more money for families to spend on their needs. I will VOTE for Lower taxes, Not just say I will vote for lower taxes and then vote the other way. Lower taxes will support the growth of "small businesses" which are the "backbone" of America, providing more and more jobs for your local community. Strong businesses provide more jobs and a greater tax base of taxpayers who pay into the system to meet the financial needs of our government.
NATIONAL SECURITY is extremely important to the future of Americans. Secure borders will provide fairness by following the "Rule of Law" and assuring safety and fair access to immigrants. A "good-neighbor" fence will provide for law enforcement on the both sides of the border; assuring safety, harmony, and a better society on both sides of the border. It is important to assure and assist in humane treatment of individuals, equal access, and maintain civil rights of our country and our neighbors.
VETERANS. Honor to veterans and soldiers who have fought for and preserved our rights and safety for over two hundred years. You have followed in the great tradition of preserving freedom and liberty in America, also bringing freedom and liberty to many countries around the world. You deserve more. You deserve greater pay, greater benefits, greater recognition, and greater retirement benefits. I will work to improve these conditions.
HEALTH CARE. Many believe health care is a "right" while it definitely is an "essential need." Every American deserve quality health care. The single-payer health care system has some difficulties that conflict with the concept of a Democratic Republic. The better method of achieving that goal is "free-market based" strategies that will supplement and enhance the current quality health care system in America. I will work across the aisle to achieve quality health care for all Americans.
SOCIAL SECURITY. Social Security needs revisting this year. Restructuring that includes sound financial principles is imperative to preserve Social Security funds for our future. A five-year plan that includes a 10% annual elective "buy-in" with a 50% Cap to "free-market" based investments will provide a stable enhancement to the current system that will assure money in the future. We must work across the aisle as "responsible financial managers" to incorporate changes that will provide a stable future for Americans in retirement years.
I will listen to the views of all my constiuents and bring much needed change to Washington DC that will improve your lives!...because I care about you. |
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Personal: (Gender, age, marital status, spouse's name and age, children's name and
ages, home town, current residence) |
Diane and Jerry were married in Long Beach in 1967. They have three children and five grandchildren. Diane grew up in Huntington Beach, CA and graduated from Huntington Beach-Marina High School. Diane is a fifth generation Californian. Her maternal great-grandfather entered California in 1851 through San Francisco during the "gold rush." Frederick and his brother Martin, along with their families owned and worked very hard in several gold mines near Nevada City.
Martin's son William used money earned from working the mines to buy a large portion of land in Upland, CA where he grew lemon and lime trees for many years that supplied Los Angeles County and other parts of the state from 1896 to 1956.
Diane's paternal grandfather and family came to California in 1933 from Ohio where her father was born. Her paternal grandparents were from the "Blue Grass" state of Kentucky. Her grandfather helped to build the Golden Gate brigde in San Francisco.
As a third generation Orange County and Los Angeles County family, many in Diane's family worked the oil fields and related jobs. The oil industry provided many jobs and the foundation for great economic growth and stability in the region, contributing to the strength and status of Orange County and Los Angeles County today.
Her husband has owned an accounting business in Seal Beach since 1979. Today, Lenning & Co provides accounting and financial management services to many clients throughout the region. |
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Education: (times and places of schools, colleges, major, degrees, activities, sports) |
Diane earned an A.A. degree from Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, CA. Later she completed her B.A. degree in Social Sciences-History-Music at Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo.
Additionally, she has earned a M.A. in Secondary Education with an emphasis in History and a Traffic & Safety credential from CSULB. Subsequently, she earned a Resource credential and a Tier I Administration credential from CSUF.
After thirty years of teaching, Diane is earning a JD degree and recently passed the Baby Bar.
In her senior year in high school, Diane was the female athlete of the year. She was also elected senior class secretary and "Miss February," as well as active in several clubs serving as a leader on campus. Diane has been a leader all her life. |
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Profession: (profession and work experience outside politics) |
Diane recently retired from over thirty years of teaching. She taught in several districts over the years, as well as the CA Youth Authority and a local community youth orchestra. Diane worked for twenty years within the Congressional district as a teacher, counselor, and soccer coach.
As a leader among her peers, Diane was one of 25 elected among 330,000 educators in California for many years as a State delegate to the NEA representative assembly, after elected as a local delegate. The NEA representative assembly is the largest democratic deliberative body in the world, often including more than 9,000 delegates from around the nation.
Diane was an effective leader for change authoring several resolutions and amendments she spoke to on the floor of the assembly each year. Seeking fairness in political spending in the NEA and revisiting the positions and goals of the NEA were an important part of inclusiveness she addressed at national conventions. She served as the high school segment director on the local education professional board, providing and assisting in education leadership in her national award winning district. |
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Military: (branch, years of service, active duty experience, highest rank, medals,
honors, discharge date and type) |
Diane served in civil service at Vandenberg Air Force during the Viet Nam conflict. Her husband was an officer in charge of the flight line.
A great honor was the Republican Senatorial "Medal of Freedom" award she received in 2004 for her political analysis, talking points, speaking, and support of candidates and elected officials.
Diane is prepared now to provide the change Americans need in Washington DC. When she is elected to Congress, a new era of politics will begin. |
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Civic: (past and present organizations, charities involvement) |
Diane has served her communities her whole life. Her activities demonstrate a life time of leadership and service. While her children were in high school, she drove her truck to carry instruments for the award-winning band. She provided support in musical instruction by teaching music in the local community.
Additionally, she counseled young men at the Southern California Reception Center for incarcerated youth from Los Angeles and Orange Counties; and worked as a teacher at Fred C. Nellis CYA in Whittier, CA.
As an individual active in her communities, she also volunteered in Long Beach assisting in meetings, serving food, and job referral services.
As a founding member, currently she serves as an officer on the board for the HB4Marines 3/1 Non-profit foundation supporting marines at Camp Pendleton, as well as President for the American Asian Youth Foundation. Third she serves as a founding board member for the Social Sciences Advisory Board for her alma mater, Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo.
Also, she serves as Vice President for the Heron Pointe Maintenance Corporation, her local HOA. |
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Political: (dates and titles of previously held political offices) |
Diane was elected many years among her 330,000 peers as State and local delegate to the national representative assembly of the National Education Association. Her credentials and experience of representing her peers in the largest democratic body of the world have prepared her to work in Congress from day one.
She will represent you with experience and strong leadership skills in Washington DC. Diane will work across the aisle to solve the domestic issues our country currently faces. |
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Religion: (current and past religious affiliations, beliefs) |
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Protestant/Christian |
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Accomplishments: (significant accomplishments, awards, achievements) |
College scholarships from two local Women's clubs were the support and encouragement I needed to achieve my goal to become a teacher. Thank you to the women with a vision for the future that helped provide educated women to our society who would work to break the "glass ceiling," bringing fairness and equal access for all Americans. As an honor student and member of the Dean's List, I managed to juggle all the requirements of life to earn good grades. As a retired teacher, I have passed the Baby Bar.
My greatest life accomplishment has been the rewards of raising our children, and see them mature and develop into responsible contributing members of society.
The greatest civic honor has been receiving the "Medal of Freedom" award from Republican leaders in the United States Senate. It was very rewarding to experience the recognition and acknowledgement of many thousands of hours of work in order to support principles in life that I believe in.
Additionally, I had the privilege of one of life's greatest rewards to have many of my students come back to thank me. It has been a rewarding experience to teach in a public school district that achieved the national Eli Broad Award for most improved student scores in the nation. My students worked very hard to follow our directions learning the required curriculum standards necessary to achieve this great accomplishment for themselves. My favorite school activity was always graduation, because we had the privilege of seeing so many minority young people reach and achieve a lifetime goal, many of whom were the first high school graduates of their families. |